Religion Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff &
Associated Press
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HAWAII
Conference features nationally known lecturers
"Give God Glory" is the theme of the Hawaiian Islands Ministries Honolulu 2006 conference, which will bring nationally known authors, motivational speakers and pastors to present more than 100 lectures and seminars for local church members.
The meetings will be March 23-25 at the Hawai'i Convention Center.
Wednesday is the deadline for online registration at the reduced price of $179 for the conference. The cost will be $249 at the door. Discounts are offered for pastors and their spouses, members of the military, college students and youths. For reservation information, call 988-9777 or see www.himonline.org. "Peek" tickets, good for one session, are available for $25.
Keynote speakers will include Louie Giglio, founder of the Passion Conferences ministry for college students; Robert Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.; Jim Cymbala, author of several Christian books and pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York; and Stephen Lungu of Zimbabwe, who tells a story of conversion to Christianity after being a terrorist. Tony Campolo, Eastern University sociology professor and author of motivational books, and Jeffrey Johnson, pastor of Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis, will return as speakers at the plenary sessions.
Chris Tomlin, a top Christian musician and composer, will perform in concert March 24.
It is the 18th conference sponsored by Hawaiian Island Ministries, which was founded in 1983 by the Rev. Dan Chun and his wife, Pamela.
Lecture and workshop promote time of peace
Kelly Bryson, who presents seminars on nonviolent communication to people in education, law enforcement, business and social services, will speak here for the local observance of the Season for Peace and Nonviolence.
Bryson will present a March 31 lecture and a workshop April 1-2. The lecture on "Overcoming the Fear of Rejection" will be at 7 p.m. at the National Bahai Center, 3264 Allan Place. The cost is $5. The two-day workshop on "Creating Freedom and Closeness in Relationships" will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the same location. The cost is $100.
Bryson is a trainer for the International Center for Nonviolent Communication and the author of "Don't Be Nice, Be Real: Balancing Passion for Self with Compassion for Others."
The Season for Peace and Nonviolence is observed nationally each year between the Jan. 30 anniversary of the murder of Mahatma Gandhi and the April 4 anniversary of the killing of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It was started by Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi, as a period to develop the principles and practices of nonviolence.
For reservations and information, call the Rev. Sue Blocki-McKenna, 696-8701.
2 churches prepare for rummage sales
It must be spring cleaning time, because church folks are clearing out their closets for the annual rummage sales.
» Next Saturday: The women's group of Christ Lutheran Church in Mililani will hold its annual rummage sale. Books, clothing, household items and toys will be on sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 95-1361 Meheula Parkway. The proceeds benefit college scholarship and community outreach programs.
» March 26: Food is always a highlight of the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin Spring Bazaar. Stew, curry and other hot lunches, sushi, pickled vegetables, preserves and baked goods will be sold at "A Taste of Hongwanji" from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Manoa DNA and Pacific Buddhist Academy students will provide musical entertainment for people browsing through quilted stitchery, handicraft items, the thrift shop, fresh produce and potted plants. Tours of the temple will be led by resident ministers. The sale supports outreach programs and the temple school.
Test pilot to speak at prayer breakfast
A test pilot and aircraft designer will be the keynote speaker at the April 13 Hawaii Prayer Breakfast.
Russell O'Quinn, a former Air Force pilot, founded a company that creates flight test programs for the U.S. Department of Defense and the aerospace industry. He speaks about his personal faith experiences.
Tickets at $26 a person are available for the event, which is traditionally attended by government leaders, military representatives, businesses and church leaders. It will be at 7 a.m. April 13 at Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
Call 486-8986 for information or send a check to Hawaii Prayer Breakfast, P.O. Box 29804, Honolulu, HI 96820.
The breakfast will be followed by a one-hour Inspirational Forum of speakers discussing their relationship with God. Speakers will be Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste; Honolulu businessman Mitch D'Olier; Ashley Watanabe, former University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball player; and Lucy Wedemeyer, who presents motivational talks with her husband, former athlete Charlie Wedemeyer.
World
Anglican leader rejects new talks on gay policy
LONDON » The leader of the international Anglican Communion has ruled out new debate on the teaching that gay sex is "incompatible with Scripture."
Looking ahead to a 2008 conference of the world's Anglican bishops, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he detected little support for re-examining the 1998 conference's resolution that condemned gay sex, clergy ordination of persons in same-sex relationships and church blessings for gay couples.
In a letter to "primates" who lead 38 of the Anglican branches, released Thursday, Williams acknowledged "bitter controversy" on the issue. But "in my judgment, we cannot properly or usefully reopen the discussion as if (the 1998 resolution) did not continue to represent the general mind of the Communion."
In a TV interview Sunday, Williams warned that the Anglican Communion faces a possible breakup over the U.S. Episcopal Church's acceptance of a gay bishop.
The U.S. bishops will likely discuss the gay issue and global Anglican situation at a closed-door session Friday to March 22.
Besides the American church's 2003 consecration of openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, two of five nominees in the May election for bishop of the California Diocese live with homosexual partners.